On This Page, You Will Find:
- British Columbia’s 2026 nomination allocation and what it means for applicants
- How the BC Provincial Nominee Program works
- Which BC PNP streams are open, closed or paused in 2026
- The Care, Build and Innovate priorities and the occupations they target
- What happened to the BC PNP tech draws
- BC PNP draws, minimum scores and the registration pool
- How to register and apply, step by step
- Fees and processing
- Frequently asked questions
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is the province’s only economic immigration tool. It offers a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for skilled workers, entrepreneurs and businesses that meet B.C.’s labour market and economic development needs.
The program is operated by the Province of British Columbia in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Candidates follow a two-stage process: they apply to the province for a nomination, and then, if nominated, apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
In 2026 the defining feature of the program is scarcity. B.C. has fewer nominations than it says it needs, and it has rebuilt its selection rules around that constraint.
British Columbia’s 2026 Nomination Allocation
IRCC notified the province on 18 December 2025 that B.C.’s opening 2026 allocation for the BC PNP was 5,254 nominations.
That figure has since gone up. On 18 August 2026 the province confirmed it had received an additional 1,000 nominations from the federal government, taking the 2026 allocation to 6,254. The BC PNP says it plans to use its full allocation by 31 December 2026, and the extra nominations are being applied to the program objectives announced on 23 April 2026.
British Columbia had requested 9,000 nominations for 2026 to address its labour market needs, so even after the top-up it holds roughly 70 per cent of what it asked for, and it has said it will continue to discuss the allocation with IRCC.
For context on how the province arrived here:
- B.C.’s 2025 allocation opened at 4,000 nominations, a 50 per cent reduction from 2024.
- Additional federal nominations in October and December 2025 brought the 2025 total to 6,214.
- The 2026 figure of 6,254, after the August top-up, is marginally above the final 2025 total.
Nationally, the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets a Provincial Nominee Program admissions target of 91,500 for 2026, within a range of 82,000 to 105,000. Provincial allocations are set separately by IRCC and can be topped up during the year, as happened in both 2025 and 2026.
The practical consequence for candidates is that the BC PNP invites a small number of people, in narrowly defined categories, at high scores. Applicants who do not fit a current priority should look at other provincial nominee programs or at federal Express Entry options.
BC PNP Streams Open in 2026
The BC PNP now has two main pathways: Skills Immigration for workers, and Entrepreneur Immigration for entrepreneurs and businesses.
Under Skills Immigration, workers choose between two streams based on their job offer:
- Skilled Worker stream – requires a full-time, indeterminate job offer from an eligible B.C. employer in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation, at least two years of full-time equivalent work experience, and Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 or higher.
- Health Authority stream – requires a full-time, indeterminate job offer from a B.C. health authority employer in a health authority-eligible occupation.
Both streams have an Express Entry BC option. Candidates already in the federal Express Entry pool who meet the stream criteria can select the Express Entry BC version of their stream when they register, which links the provincial nomination to the federal profile.
Entrepreneur Immigration continues under three routes: the Base stream and the Regional stream for individual entrepreneurs, and the Strategic Projects stream for businesses establishing operations in B.C. Entrepreneur draws have run monthly through 2026.
Two important changes announced on 23 April 2026:
- The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream is officially closed. Its last invitations were issued on 10 December 2024 and it is being removed from the registration system and Program Guide.
- The BC PNP will not launch new student streams. International graduates must use the existing streams, although study completed in B.C. or elsewhere in Canada still earns additional registration points.
The 2026 Priorities: Care, Build and Innovate
On 23 April 2026 the province reorganised the BC PNP around three objectives aligned with its Look West strategy. At least 35 per cent of nominations are expected to go to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver.
Care covers 36 in-demand occupations in health care, education, childcare and veterinary care. Certified early childhood educators, veterinarians and veterinary technologists working toward Canadian certification are prioritised. French-speaking teachers in the province’s public K-12 system are also targeted, using federal allocations available for francophone recruitment.
Build targets nine certified skilled trades supporting construction and major infrastructure, including welders, electricians, plumbers, steamfitters, carpenters, millwrights, heavy-duty equipment mechanics and HVAC mechanics. A valid SkilledTradesBC certificate or registered apprenticeship is required to receive a targeted invitation.
Innovate is delivered through High Economic Impact invitations, which target top talent across all sectors, including experienced entrepreneurs.
The province also runs a time-limited initiative in 2026: the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative, which will nominate up to 250 workers already employed by a health authority in a cleaning or security role in a rural or remote community. Registration opened on 15 June 2026. It was originally due to close on 31 August 2026, but on 13 August 2026 the BC PNP extended the intake to 11:59 pm on 7 October 2026 to account for wildfire-related impacts.
What Happened to the BC PNP Tech Stream
There is no longer a standalone technology stream or dedicated tech draw at the BC PNP.
The final draw for BC PNP priority technology occupations took place on 3 December 2024. Since then, technology talent has been selected through the High Economic Impact invitations rather than through a separate tech list.
All occupations that appeared on the previous technology occupations list remain eligible for the BC PNP. Tech workers therefore still qualify, but they compete on wage and score against candidates from every other sector.
BC PNP Draws and Scores in 2026
Invitations to apply are issued periodically from the registration pool. Registrations are scored on human capital factors such as work experience, education and language, plus economic factors such as wage and job location in B.C. A registration stays in the pool for up to 12 months.
Two patterns are visible in 2026. Targeted Care and Build draws run roughly every six to seven weeks, and High Economic Impact draws run on their own schedule.
In the draw of 6 August 2026, the BC PNP issued invitations as follows:
- Care: Childcare – 183 invitations, minimum score 102
- Care: Health – 124 invitations, minimum score 84
- Care: Education – fewer than five invitations, minimum score 68
- Care: Veterinary Care – six invitations, minimum score 72
- Build: Construction Trades – 187 invitations, minimum score 88
The High Economic Impact draw of 16 July 2026 issued 223 invitations to candidates with a job offer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 paying at least $58 an hour and $115,000 a year, plus a further 346 invitations at a minimum score of 132.
Minimum scores in the targeted categories have eased through 2026. The Care: Health cut-off fell from 108 in May to 84 in August, and Build: Construction Trades fell from 108 to 88 over the same period.
As of 4 August 2026 there were 8,306 registrations in the Skills Immigration pool, with 1,312 scoring 120 or above.
Entrepreneur Immigration draws in 2026 have invited between seven and 15 Base stream candidates a month, with minimum scores between 115 and 121.
How to Register and Apply
The Skills Immigration process has four components: registration, invitation, application and decision.
- Choose your stream – Skilled Worker or Health Authority, and decide whether to use the Express Entry BC option.
- Register online – create a profile in the BC PNP Online User Portal. There is no registration fee. You receive a score and enter the pool for up to 12 months.
- Wait for an invitation – if invited, you have 30 calendar days to submit a complete application. Missing that deadline removes your registration from the pool.
- Apply – pay the application fee and upload supporting documents through the portal.
- Receive a decision – approved applicants get a nomination package and a Confirmation of Nomination letter.
- Apply to IRCC – submit the permanent residence application before the nomination expires. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to an Express Entry profile.
Some occupations are excluded from every Skills Immigration stream, including executive assistants, administrative officers and assistants, human resources officers, accounting technicians and bookkeepers, retail and food service supervisors, real estate agents, and religious leaders and workers.
Fees
The BC PNP increased its Skills Immigration application fee on 22 January 2026. Current fees are:
- Registration – no fee
- Skills Immigration application – $1,750 CAD
- Request for review – $500 CAD, non-refundable
Federal fees are separate. See our guide to Canadian immigration processing times for what to expect after nomination.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nominations does British Columbia have in 2026?
The BC PNP’s 2026 allocation is 6,254 nominations. IRCC set the opening allocation at 5,254 on 18 December 2025 and added a further 1,000 on 18 August 2026. British Columbia had asked for 9,000, and the province says it will keep discussing the figure with the federal government.
Is there still a BC PNP tech stream?
No. The last targeted draw for BC PNP priority technology occupations was held on 3 December 2024. Technology occupations remain eligible for the program, but tech candidates are now selected through High Economic Impact invitations that cover all sectors rather than through a dedicated tech draw.
Do I need a job offer for the BC PNP?
Yes, for Skills Immigration. Both the Skilled Worker stream and the Health Authority stream require a full-time, indeterminate job offer from an eligible British Columbia employer, supported by a completed Employer Declaration Form. Entrepreneur Immigration does not require a job offer.
What score do I need to be invited by the BC PNP?
It depends on the category and the draw. In the 6 August 2026 draw, minimum scores ranged from 68 for priority education occupations to 102 for early childhood educators. High Economic Impact draws have required around 132 to 138 points, or a job offer meeting a set wage threshold instead of a score.
Can international graduates still use the BC PNP?
There are no BC PNP student streams and the province confirmed in April 2026 that it will not launch new ones. Graduates can register under the Skilled Worker or Health Authority streams if they hold a qualifying job offer, and studies completed in B.C. or elsewhere in Canada still earn extra registration points.
How long is a BC PNP nomination valid?
A Confirmation of Nomination has an expiry date, and the federal permanent residence application must be submitted before it expires. Provincial nomination processing and federal processing are separate stages, each with its own timelines, so applicants should check IRCC’s current processing times before planning a move.